Apparatus for the continuous mercerization of cotton



Sept. 14, 1954 APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS MERCERIZATION OF COTTON Filed Oct. 9, 1950 o If) J5 J @010 J6 4.5 73 g I. L :u A 1 28 J. -i m 3 W a (88 UNI 26 I A 1| J- .25 38 o 34 35 4 3 7 i i -3Z 6' 6 A 'm I 6 4/ he 44 .36 4/ 1 48 42 45 48 4/ INVENTOR L iii/5011212 111128) 8 2 \k 44 W. F. LUTHER 12 Sheets-Sheet l J 4+ BY MmM/ ATTORNEYS Sept. 14, 1954 W. F. LUTHER APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS MEIRCERIZATION OF COTTON Filed Oct. 9, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS W. F. LUTHER Sept. 14, 1954 APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS MERCERIZATION OF COTTON l2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 9, 1950 ATTORNEYS Se t. 14, 1954 w. F. LUTHER APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS MERCERIZATION OF COTTON l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 9, 1950 ATTORNEYS Sept. 14, 1954 w. F. LUTHER APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS MERCERIZATION OF COTTON Filed Oct. 9, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR lflzlifier William ATTORNEYS Sept. 14, 1954 w. F. LUTHER 2,688,863

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS MERCERIZATION OF COTTON Filed Oct. 9, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 7 12 4/; 409 p fl' 4/2 1 I A 463 3/0 2% 44+ 307 29a 4 306 52305291 494 a 1 r1 E. r

m n gu 25 zap I 490 v mvsmon Williamfllafler ATTORNEYS Sept. 14, 1954 w. F. LUTHER 2,583,363

APPARATUS FOR THE CQNTINUOUS MERCERIZATION OF COTTON Filed Oct. 9, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENT OR ATTORNEY:

Sept. 14, 1954 w. F. LUTHER APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS MERCERIZATION OF COTTON Filed Oct. 9, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet lT-Illllh ATTORNEYS Sept. 14, 1954 w. F. LUTHER 2,688,863

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS MEIRCERIZATION OF COTTON Filed Oct. 9, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 lql I N VE NTOR ll'lliamfilwi/Zer BY M ATTORNEYS Sept. 14, 1954 w. F. LUTHER APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS MERCERIZATION OF COTTON Filed 061;. 9, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 I NVEN TOR Elm 1201' Will Wile Maw ATTORNEYS Sept. 14, 1954 w. F. LUTHER APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS MEIRCERIZATION OF COTTON Filed Oct. 9, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 14, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS MERCERIZATION OF COTTON This invention relates to mercerization of cotton yarns or threads and more particularly to an apparatus for the continuous mercerization of a single yarn as it is being advanced. The invention is of especial utility for mercerizing two ply yarns.

In the usual apparatus for mercerizing cotton yarns, a large number of yarns, often several hundred in number, are brought together in a bundle or rope and this bundle of yarns is advanced through the mercerizing bath in order to process them. This is generally referred to as the warp process for the mercerization of cotton yarns. The mercerization of yarns in warp form, however, involves certain disadvantages, and in particular it may be mentioned that the yarns are not uniformly mercerized. This is principally because the yarns at the interior of the bundle do not receive the same mercerizing treatment as the yarns at the outside of the bundle, inasmuch as the mercerizing liquid does not come into as free contact with these inner yarns.

-In addition, in advancing the yarns in warp form, it is impossible to make certain that all of the yarns are under the same tension throughout the mercerizing process, and this also necessarily brings about a variation in the mercerizing action. Also, in handling two-ply yarns, it has not been possible to apply as great a tension as has been desired, due to the frail character of these yarns and the necessity of making certain that one or more yarns which are under an increased tension are not stretched beyond their breaking strength.

It has consequently been impossible to so closely control the mercerization of the yarns being handled in warp form that a uniformity of treatment results. Because of this the threads have not received uniform dyeing properties and they have not attained their maximum strength or luster.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a machine for mercerizing a single yarn strand in such a manner that uniform mercerization occurs throughout the entire length of the yarn. Because of this the yarn has a greater dye uniformity.

Another object of the invention is to obtain the mercerization of yarn under conditions which can be closely controlled so that variations in the mercerization of the yarn can be avoided.

A further object of the invention is to mercerize a single yarn strand at high speed so that although it is being handled in single end form, the process will be economical. Additional economy is achieved due to the elimination of the creeling, warping, splitting, quilling and other winding operations.

A still further object of the invention is to obtain a greater degree of mercerization and to produce a yarn having a greater luster and also a greater strength due to the ability of applying a greater tension without breakage.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine contemplated by the invention for carrying out the mercerization of a single end of cotton'yarn;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view as indicated by the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line fi6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the rear side of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the machine as indicated by the line 88 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a view in front elevation of a preferred embodiment of a single end mercerizing machine affording certain structural and operating advantages over the machine shown in Figures l to 8, inclusive;

Figure 10 is a front end elevation partially in section of the machine of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a rear end elevation of the machine of Figure 9;

- Figure 12 is a top plan view of the machine of Figure 9;

Figure 13 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 13-!3 of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on. the line [4-14 of Figure 10;

Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line Iii-l5 of Figure 10;

Figure 16 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 56-46 of Figure 12 and illustrating the details of the dryers with which the machine is equipped;

Figures 17 and 18 are detailed sectional views taken on the lines Ill1 and I8-IB respectively of Figure 16;

Figure 19 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line l9l9 of Figure 12;

Figures 20, 21 and 22 are detailed views of the pretensioning and guiding device through which the thread passes in its path to the machine; and

Figures 23 and 24 are detailed sectional views taken on the lines 2323 and id-24 respectively of Figure 11 and illustrating the mechanism for controlling the pressure of the squeeze roller.

The framework for the apparatus of Figures 1 to 8 inclusive includes a pair of spaced horizontal members I I, here shown as angle irons. The members I I are fastened to a suitable supporting surface, such as an elevated platform or table top which will serve to maintain the members I I in their proper spaced relationship. Attached to the horizontal members I! are upright frame members I3 and I4 and, as here shown, these members I3 and [4 are of channel construction in cross-section. The uprights I3 and I4 may be attached to the horizontal members II by any suitable means, such asby welding. To brace the upper ends of the upright members l3 and I4 they are connected by a spacing bar I2.

The yarn or thread which is to be mercerized may be supplied from any desired source and preferably it is provided in a package from which it may be readily withdrawn. As here shown, the yarn is in the form of a cone, as shown at l5, and this conical package of yarn is carried upon a horizontally extending arm I3a which is secured to the upright member I3. As it is preferable to withdraw the yarn from such a cone in an axial direction, a pigtail guide I6 is disposed axially above the cone I5 and this pigtail guide is attached to an upright rod I! which is fastened at its lower end, as by welding, to the upright member I3.

From the pigtail guide I6 the yarn passes forwardly to another pigtail guide I8 which is attached to a rod I3 which projects laterally from and is secured to the upright rod I'I. From the pigtail guide I8 the yarn passes downwardly through a tension guide 2| and this tension guide is carried by an arm 22 which is attached, as by welding, to the upright member I3. This tension guide 2 I, may for example, be of the revolving disc type.

After passing through the tension guide H, the yarn progresses to one end of a yarn-storage, yarn-advancing device which includes two spaced rollers 23 and 24. The roller 23 is attached to a shaft 25 and this shaft is rotatably mounted in bearings 26 which are fastened to one of the outer faces of upright members I3 and I4. The other roller 24 is attached to a shaft 21 and this shaft is rotatably mounted in bearings 28 which are fastened to the other outer faces of the channeled upright members I3 and I4. The axes of the rollers 23 and 24 are disposed to lie in parallel planes, but their axes are at an angle, or are askew with respect to each other. To adjust this latter angularity between the axes of the two rollers, one of the bearings 26 may be provided with an adjustment as indicated at 29, so that this end of the shaft 25 can be raised or lowered.

Due to the relationship between the axes of rollers 23 and 24, a yarn which is delivered to them will be advanced by them in generally helical turns from the end of the rollers to which the yarn is supplied, to the other end of the rollers. After properly fixing, by means of adjustment 29, the angularity between the axes of the rollers 23 and 24, while maintaining the axes in their parallel planes, the spacing between the generally helical turns can be established. It is desirable that the turns be close together so that a maximum length of yarn will be on the rollers at any time but it is desirable that enough spacing between the helical turns be maintained so that the turns do not overlap.

As here shown, the rollers 23 and 24 are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction when the ma-- chine is viewed from Figures 4 and 5. It will be understood that the yarn is withdrawn from the spaced rollers 23 and 24 at their ends to which the yarn is being advanced, at the same rate that it is being supplied to the receiving ends of the rollers plus the amount of stretch produced by the tapered rolls, as will be explained. Thus, the yarn is being continuously advanced to the rollers, is being continuously stored in generally helical turns while being advanced along these rollers and is being continuously withdrawn from the rollers so that it may be collected in package form. While the yarn is being thus progressed along the yarn-storage, yarn-advancing device it is subjected to a mercerizing solution, in a manner which will hereinafter be described.

The shafts 25 and 21 may be rotated in unison in any desired manner. As here shown, they are connected by means of a chain 3I which passes over sprockets attached to the projecting ends of the two shafts 25 and 21. The shafts may be driven in any desired manner as by means of a chain 32 passing over another sprocket 33 on the shaft 21, and this chain 32 may be driven by any prime mover.

To apply the mercerizing solution to the yarn as it is being progressed in closely spaced, generally helical turns along the yarn-storage, yarnadvancing device, 2. padding roller 34 is provided. This roller 34 is attached to a shaft 35 and shaft 35 is rotatably mounted in bearings 36 which are secured to the outer faces of upright members I3 and I4. The padding roller 34 is rotated by means of a pulley 31 attached to shaft 35. A driving belt 38 passes over this pulley 31 and connects it with a pulley on the shaft 21, see Figures 1 and 4. It is preferable that the pulley 37 be of large size so that the padding roller 34 will turn relatively slowly as this will reduce the tendency of this roller to throw off the liquid on its surface.

The underside of the padding roller 34 clips into the mercerizing solution which is carried in a trough 4 I. The mercerizing solution may be supplied to the trough M by any suitable means as through the supply conduit 42. A sufficient amount of solution must be maintained in the trough 4| so that the constant rotation of the 4 padding roller 34 will carry some of this solution upwardly against the yarn being advanced along the rollers 23 and 24.

It will be observed that the padding roller 34 contacts the helical turns of yarn in their lower span between the rollers 23 and 24. This is preferable to having the padding roller 34 contact the yarn at a point directly on either roller 23 or 24 inasmuch as a more certain contact with the yarn can be established by engaging it at the yieldable portion of the yarn in its movement be tween the two roller surfaces. Preferably, the roller 34 contacts the yarn just after it leaves the roller 23 in its movement to roller 24.

Also, it will be observed that the padding roller 34 is of narrow width. It has been found that this padding roller 34 need be only so wide as to make certain that the mercerizing solution will be positively applied to and absorbed by every increment of length of the yarn. It has been found that the solution which remains in the yarn will continue the mercerizing action upon the yarn after the yarn passes beyond the padding roller 34. By making the padding roller 34 of this narrow width, it is easier to wash the solution from the yarn inasmuch as an excess of the mercerizing solution will not be present by the time the subsequent washing step is reached. Moreover, there is less loss of the solution by prevention of the excess being squeezed into the subsequent water section.

This washing of the yarn is accomplished by means of a second roller 43, which is attached to the same shaft 35 which carries the padding roller 34. The washing roller 43 dips into a trough 44 containing wash water and the roller 43 serves to carry this wash water upwardly into contact with the yarn. It will be noted that the Washing roller 43, like the padding roller 34, contacts the yarn turns in their lower passage between the surfaces of the two rollers where they are out of contact with these rollers 23 and 24. Also, it will be observed that the washing roller 43 is considerably longer than the padding roller 34 to obtain a prolonged washing action and make certain that a major amount of the mercerizing solution is removed from the yarn.

Fresh wash water is continuously delivered to the trough 44 through supply conduits 45. To constantly remove the contaminated wash water from trough 44, an overflow pipe 49 is provided.

The troughs 4| and 44 may, for convenience of manufacture, be formed from a single shallow receptacle which is divided by means of a partition 46 so as to thereby rovide these two troughs. These troughs, or the shallow receptacle from which they are formed, may be held in position by any desired means and as here shown, this includes a supporting rod 47 which extends between and is carried by the upper ends of vertical support 48. These supports 48 are attached as by welding to the horizontal frame members H. An edge of the receptacle constituting the troughs 4| and 44 is merely flanged over to form a lip to rest upon the supporting rod 41.

The other end of each of the troughs 4| and 44, or of the receptacle of which they are made, is supported upon a cross rod 5| and this cross rod passes through aligned openings in horizontal bars 52. These horizontal bars 52 are slightly above the horizontal frame members II and are attached as by welding at their ends to the upright frame members l3 and I4. The cross rod 5| is preferably provided with a bent end as shown at 5| to form a handle so that the cross rod may be withdrawn by an endwise movement away from the horizontal bars 52 by which it is carried. This withdrawal of the cross rod 5| upon which the rearward portion of the receptacle constituting the troughs 3| and 44 rests, makes it possible to lower this receptacle below the applying rollers 34 and 43 so that it can be removed from the supporting rod 41 and then withdrawn from the machine.

The troughs 4| and 44 should be large enough to underlie at least a major portion of both rollers, and it will be apparent that they may be of the same depth throughout their length. However, it is preferable that the troughs or the receptacle providing them be of shallow depth except beneath the applying rollers 34 and 43 so that a smaller quantity of the mercerizing solution and of the wash water will be present. To carry out this latter purpose, the receptacle from which the troughs 4| and 44 are formed may merely be. a pan beneath the roller 24 andthis pan slopes downwardly to the deeper portion beneath the applying rollers 34 and 43.

Inasmuch as a superior mercerization action is obtained if the yarn is stretched during the mercerization reaction and the washing out operation, the rollers 23 and 24 are of gradually enlarging diameter from their yarn receiving ends to their yarn discharging ends. As the yarn turns progress along these tapered rollers, the yarn is subjected to an increasing degree of stretch and this imparts a greater luster and strength to the yarn.

It is desirable that a squeeze or wringer roller bear against one of the yarn-advancing rollers 23 or 24 to remove excess solution or water from the yarn so that these liquids will not be thrown away from the machine. To effect this result, a squeeze roller 53 is provided and it is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 54. Shaft 54 is rotatable in arms 55 which are fixed to and project from a rock shaft 56. The rock shaft 56 is rotatable within upright arms 51 which are attached at their lower ends to the horizontal frame members ll. It may be noted that the rear ends of the horizontal bars 52 are secured to upright arms 57 for strengthening purposes, see Figure 6.

To press the squeeze roller 53 against roller 24, a lever arm 58 is attached to the rock shaft 56 and to the free end of the lever arm 58 may be suspended weight 59. It is evident that the downward force of the weight 59 will tend to rock the shaft 56 and forcibly bring the squeeze roller 53 against the yarn-advancing roller 24. By varying the magnitude of the weight at 59, the pressure exerted by squeeze roller 53 can be regulated.

The squeeze roller 53 should be as long as the yarn-storage, yarn-advancing device so that all of the yarn turns thereon will be subjected to the wringing action of the squeeze roller. As has been noted, the applying rollers 34 and 43 preferably are beneath the roller 23 so that these applying rollers deliver their respective liquids to the yarn immediately after it leaves the roller 23 in its movement toward the roller 24. As the squeeze roller 53 bears against the roller 24, the liquids applied by the padding roller 34 and washing roller 43, have an appreciable amount of time to come into contact with the yarn to make sure that the yarn is adequately treated before it is subjected to the wringing action of squeeze roller 53.

- The mercerizing solution which is pressed from the yarn after having been applied to the yarn by roller 34, drops down into the shallow, rearward part of trough 4| and fiows to the deeper part of the trough. Since this returned solution is reapplied to the yarn, the mercerizing solution is conserved.

Inasmuch as the wash Water which is squeezed from the roller 24 by means of the roller 53 contains some of the mercerizing solution, and it is therefore of value, the invention contemplates the recovery of this removed liquid. To accomplish this, a catch pan 6| is located beneath the thread-advancing roller 24 in such position that the liquid squeezed out of the yarn by roller 53 above this catch pan 6| will be collected in the pan. This recovered liquid can be continuously removed from the catch pan 6| by means of a drain conduit 62, see Figure 5, and this recovered liquid may be reconcentrated for reuse.

The catch pan 6| may be supported by merely fastening it in place upon the bottom of the receptacle providing the troughs 4| and 44. As

here shown, the catch pan 6| extends to the end of roller 24 from which the yarn is delivered and consequently all of the wash water which is squeezed out by roller 53 is recovered. However, the catch pan 6| can be shortened so that only the initially applied wash water is collected, so that only the stronger solution will drop into the pan 6|. Thus, the concentration of the diluted caustic liquor which is recovered, may be controlled by varying the length of the catch pan 6|.

Inasmuch as liquid ma accumulate at the point of contact between roller 53 and roller 24 and be carried by the yarn to the takeoff end, it may be desirable to surround this end with a shield 63. This shield 83 may be supported by attaching it to the arms 55 which rotatably support the shaft 54. From the shield 63, the liquid runs down into trough 44.

After leaving the yarn-storage, yarn-advancing device which includes the rollers 23 and 24, the yarn passes through a pigtail guide 64. This guide 64 is carried by a bracket 65 which is attached to one of the upright arms 51. From the guide 54 the yarn passes over a universal Winding cam roller 66 and rests in the groove in this cam roller 66. The cam roller 86 is attached to a shaft 61 and this shaft is rotatably mounted in bearings 68 which are secured to the upright frame members l3 and 14, see Figure 2. To rotate the shaft 61 a pulley 69 is fastened thereto and this pulley is driven by means of a belt which also passes around a driving pulley H. The driving pulley H is secured to shaft 21.

A collecting spool or tube 13 is frictionally mounted upon a rotatably mounted arbor '14 which is carried at one end by a swinging arm I5, and this swinging arm is pivotable about a fixed pin 75 projecting laterally from the upright frame member l4, see Figure 2. It is preferable that the collecting spool be in the form of the usual tube having perforations therethrough so that the yarn which is collected on this spool may be further washed and scoured and otherwise finished by passage of liquid through the opening in the tube and radially through the package of yarn. The winding tube or spool may be mounted upon the arbor 14 by merely passing it over the free end of this arbor,

and the winding tube or spool can then be moved downwardly against the surface of the winding cam roller 58 under the influence of its own weight, see the broken line position of the tube 73 in Figures 2 and 7.

Rotation of the winding cam roller 66 by means of the belt '10 will, in known manner, serve to frictionally rotate the winding tube or spool 13 so that the yarn delivered thereto will be col.- lected upon this tube or spool. Also, this yarn which is collected upon the spool or tube 13 will be advanced from end to end thereof in building up the package by the action of the cam groove in roller 66.

Rotation of the rollers 23 and 24 will cause the turns of yarn thereon to advance in regular order, but it has been found that by bringing to bear a tensioning rod upon the yarn in its passage between the rollers the yarn will advance with the loops in closer proximity without entanglement. As here shown, this tensioning rod has a horizontal portion 11 which bears upon the upper run of the yarn passing between the rollers 24 and 23. To assure passage of the yarn n a h th t nsion n rod 1, its entran e nd may be upwardly turned at 1 8. The other end of the rod is turned upwardly as shown at '19 to serve as a hanger or support. This vertical portion 19 is adjustably attached to a bracket projecting from upright member [4. The end at 18 of tensioning rod I1 is supported by a vertical rod BI welded at its lower end to rod 11, and attached by adjustment collar 82 at its upper end to cross rod I2.

By adjusting this rod I1 up or down at either end, the yarn loops are kept from separating or shifting in an unruly manner on the rolls. This prevents entanglement or breakdown of the yarn and also allows more loops to be put on the rollers. The fact that more loops can be accommodated on the rollers 23 and 24 if the tensioning rod 11 is employed, means that the mercerization process is speeded up for a given length of rolls. The tensioning rod also serves to remove and lay the fuzz or projecting fibers on the yarn, giving a yarn of smoother appearance and higher luster.

It will be realized that the path of the thread between the rollers 23 and 24 is not truly helical due to the fact that the rollers are spaced apart horizontally as can be clearly seen in Figure 1. Thus, if the angular disposition of the rollers 23 and 24 is such as to produce a helix angle equal to the diameter of the thread, it is still not possible to close up the space between adjacent coils running on the machine. This is due to the fact that the thread which defines the helix extends beyond the cylindrical surface of one roller to get to the other roller which is horizontally spaced from the first. This projection interrupts the formation of a true helix and causes some spacing of the coils of thread even when the relative inclination of the rollers has been reduced to a minimum. On the other hand, the squeeze roller is less effective in its operation if there are spaces between the coils of thread on which it bears. This is because the roller bears on the threads and not on the actual surface of the roller 24. The tensioning bar H can be used to overcome this difficulty by disposing it at an angle such that the thread coils bearing against the under surface of it are caused to progress toward the thread receiving end of the device and so to contact the next adjacent coil in that direction. This results in the maintenance of a solid thread body on the device which can and does enhance the effectiveness of the squeeze roller 53.

To make certain that the yarn is delivered to the roller 23 at a uniform point, a guide arm 83 may have its free end disposed close to this roller at the point where the yarn initially contacts the roller. This guide arm 83 is supported by fastening it to the upright frame member l3. A similar guide arm 84, attached to upright member I4, is close to the delivery end of rollers 23 and 24 to prevent the yarn turns from accidentally passing off the ends of these rollers.

Although it is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be clear from the foregoing description, a summary of this operation may here be set forth. In setting the machine into operation the yarn is partly withdrawn from the cone l5 and after passing it through eyes 18 and I8 and tension guide 2|, it is passed around the rollers 23 and 24 a few times and the free end is preferably tied to an adjacent turn. Rotation of the rollers 23 and 24 will cause this initial turn to advance axially these rollers and in so moving the yarn will be formed in closely spaced 9. turns throughout the entire length of the rollers. When the initial few turns have reached the far end of the rollers 23 and 24 the yarn is withdrawn and passed around the collecting spool or tube 13 and this spool is then brought into frictional engagement with the winding cam roller. Thereafter, continued driving of the machine will serve to withdraw the yarn continuously from the supply cone I and advance it along the yarn-storage, yarn-advancing device, during which time it is subjected to the action of the mercerizing solution and then to the action of the wash water, and thereafter the yarn is collected upon the spool 13.

The loops are almost instantaneously wet out by the mercerizing solution and the contained mercerization penetrant, which is applied by the padding roller 34 and this wetting is greatly aided by the pressing action of the squeeze roller 53. After the loops pass the padding roller 34, they contain only somewhat more than their weight of the mercerizing solution and the mercerizing action continues until the yarn reaches the water applying roller 43. The rate of washing the yarn is greatly increased by a well-fitting squeeze roller 53. The wet yarn leaving the rollers 23 and 24 will contain approximately equal its weight of water and from 1 to 2% of its weight of the mercerizing solution. The wet yarn is collected upon the perforated spool I3 in which form it is finished and dried before being wound onto cones for shipment.

Any suitable mercerizing solution may be used and this may be a caustic solution of about 30 Baum. The mercerizing solution should also preferably contain a suitable penetrant or mercerizing assistant, such as Tergitol 08 and a defoaming agent, such as octyl alcohol.

One operating form of the machine contemplated by the invention has yarn-storage, yarnadvancing rollers which are twelve inches long, and are 5.83 inches in diameter at the small end, increasing to 5.98 inches at the large, or take off, end. This gives a pitch of approximately 3% which in turn gives a yarn stretch of 3%. The padding roller 34 is inch wide and is set in approximately inch from the thread receiving end of the yarn loops to prevent caustic migrating to the end of the rollers and flying off. There is a space of approximately three and one-half inches left between the caustic padder 34 and the water applying roller 43. The yarn may be handled by this machine at a rate of 400 yards per minute, or better, which means that the yarn is mercerized in approximately 60 seconds.

The short period of time in which the yarn is mercerized according to the process of this invention may be accounted for by the fact that the yarn is repeatedly subjected to the application of the mercerizing liquid and to the wringing action of the squeeze roller. The repetition of these successive treatments serves to bring about a more thorough penetration of fresh mercerizing solution into the yarn. Thus, the padder-squeezer roll combination speedsup the process by bringing about a quicker and more thorough penetration of the fresh mercerizing solution, followed by quick displacement of the caustic in the washing step.

If now reference is made to Figures 9 to 24, inclusive, it will be observed that the machine there shown differs from the machine of Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, in several important respects. In the first place, the apparatus of Figures 9 to 24 is intended 'for commercial installation and hence is a multi-unit machine with provision in each unit for continuous feeding of the yarn to be mercerized, continuous mercerization of the yarn, continuous drying of the mercerized yarn and continuous twisting of the dried mercerized yarn. Other differences and developments over the machine shown in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, will be apparent as the description of the machine of Figures 9 to 24 proceeds.

It will be noted that each unit of the machine of Figures 9 to 24, inclusive, is comprised of two thread-storage thread-advancing rollers or cylinders I00 and ml. The yarn to be mercerized is drawn first from a wound package I02 and then from a wound package I03 onto the rollers I00 and MI. After passing over the rollers I00 and NH in a plurality of closely spaced generally helical turns, the mercerized and washed yarn is passed in generally helical fashion over rollers I04 and I05 on which it is dried. The dried yarn issuing from the rollers I05 is led to-a bobbin on spindle I00 of a ring twister and is collected thereon.

The wound packages I02 and I03 which comprise the yarn to be mercerized are mounted on spindles or studs which project from supporting arms I01 and I00, respectively. The supporting arms I01 and I08 are connected at their respective ends remote from the package supporting spindle to collars I09 and H0 and these collars are a loose fit on a standard III supported from the main frame of the machine. Each collar I09 and H0 is provided with a downwardly projecting ridge on its lower surface and that ridge seats in a radial groove in the upper surface of the appropriate collar H2 or H3, the collars H2 and H3 being fixed on the standard III. By this arrangement is is possible to support-the two frusto conical-packages I02 and I03 for overhead withdrawal with the small end of each directed toward a common thread guide II4. Thus by tying the inner end of package I02 to the outer end of package I03 it is possible, upon the exhaustion of package I02, to withdraw overhead package I03 without interrupting the continuity of the operation. While yarn is being withdrawn from package I03 an operator swings the arm I01 out of position, by raising it enough so that the collar I09 is disengaged from the collar I I2, and puts a new package on the spindle. He then swings arm I01 back to position and ties the outer end of the yarn to the inner end of the yarn constituting package I03. Thus the yarn packages I02 and I03 are alternately replenished to maintain an uninterrupted supply of yarn moving to the mercerizing unit. The radial ridges on the lower edges of the collars I09 and I I (I coacting with the radial grooves on the upper surfaces of collars H2 and H3, respectively, permit easy swinging of the arms I01 and I08 for package replenishment and yet accurate return of each to its predetermined position with respect to the thread guide I I4.

So that the yarn will be drawn onto the rollers I00 and IOI under uniform tension, the thread guide II4 which lies intermediate the packages I02 and I03 and the roller I00 is associated with a tensioning or drag imparting mechanism generally designated by the numeral H5 and shown in detail in Figures 20, 21 and 22. The thread tensioning mechanism includes a supporting channel member I I6 which is centrally held from a bracket I I! which in turn is attached by a bolt II8 to a collar II 9 which surrounds a supporting standard I20. Y

It can be seen that the actual position of the channel member H6 is adjustable since by loosening bolt II8 the angular position of collar I I9 or the standard I20 and the angular position of the bracket II1 may be altered to suit operating requirements.

, At the end of the channel member II6 remote from the guide II4 there is located a guide I2I which is in the form of an inverted U with both shanks having porcelain eyelets. The guide I2I and the guide I I4 are both bolted to the channel member H6 and by loosening the bolts, the angular position of the guides may be altered. Between the guide H4 and the point of attachment of the bracket II1 to the channel member II6, there are located a plurality of porcelain tensioning fingers I22 arranged in a line lengthwise of the channel member I I6 and spaced apart enough to define between guide H4 and guide I2I a tortuous path.

, It has been explained that the guide I2I is an inverted U member having thread eyelets in both of its shanks. In between the shanks of the guide I2 I, there is located a stop motion wire I23, which is resiliently urged to swing in a clockwise direction as it is viewed in Figure 21. When the thread is running normally in the machine, it holds the stop motion wire I23 in the full line position of Figure 21, but in the event of thread breakage, the wire moves to the broken line position of Figure 21 and in so doing actuates a switch which disconnects power to the driving mechanism for the rollers I and IOI. To this end, the stop motion wire I23 is pivotally mounted on a pin I24 which projects from a switch box I25 which is afiixed to a secondary bracket I26 extending out at right angles from the bracket II1. By mounting the switch box I25 from the bracket III, the adjustments of the bracket III which may be necessary to the proper positioning of the channel member II6 are accomplished without disturbing the relative position of the stop motion wire I23 to the thread guide I2I.

The yarn issuing from the thread guide I2I passes directly to the mercerizing roller I00. It will be observed, however, that the mercerizing rollers I00 and IOI are covered by a protective hood I21 which is provided with doors I23 and I29, having operating handles I28a and I29a thereon. The doors I28 and I29 are connected by hinges I30 and I3I, respectively, to the main hood I21, so that the doors may be raised to render the thread storage-thread advancing rollers and their associated mechanisms available for inspection or repair. So that the movement of the door I28 will not interfere with the thread running between the thread guide I2I and the roller I00, an eyelet I32 is provided in the hood I21 adjacent but not in the path of the door I28.

The rollers I00 and MI are provided with shafts I33 and I34, respectively, which are mounted in bearings I35, I36, I31 and I38. These bearings are supported on L-shaped frame members I39 and I40 which are supported from channel beams I M and I42 which run for the length of the machine and support not only the frame members I39 and I40 but also similar frame members for the other units of the machine. Bearing I35 is the rear bearing for the shaft I33 and is held in fixed position on the frame I39 by bolts I43 best seen in Figures and'll. Bearing I31 is the rear bearing for the shaft I34 and is held in fixed position on the frame I39 by bolts I44 best seen in Figure 11. Bearing I38 is 12 the front bearing for the shaft I34 and is held in fixed position on the frame I40 by bolts I45 as can best be seen in Figure 14.

Since it is intended that the rollers I00 and IOI act as yarn-storage, yarn-advancing devices, it is necessary that the axis of one of them be askew with respect to the axis of the other. Since bearings I35, I31 and I38 are fixed, the deviation of the shafts I33 and I34 from perfect parallelism is brought about by rendering adjustable the position of bearing I36. In view of the fact that shaft I33 is adjustable, the bearings I35 and I36 are of the self-aligning type to maintain the shaft concentric in the bearings despite adjustment of the bodily position of bearing I36.

Upon reference to Figures 14 and 16, it can be seen that bearing block I36 is generally rectangular as viewed in elevation and block I36 is mounted for vertical sliding in a key way defined by the upright shanks I41 and I48 of an inverted U-member I46 which is connected to the frame I40 by bolts I49. The shank I41 has pivoted to its upper end at I50 abearing position control lever I5I. The other end of this lever is internally threaded at I52 and through the threaded portion passes a threaded stud I53 provided with an operating knob I54. The stud I53 rests against an upper surface of the shank I48 and is rotatable relative thereto. It can now be seen that by rotating the stud I53, the lever I5I can be pivoted to a limited extent about the bolt pivot at I50.

So that small angular displacement of the lever I5I will bring about small vertical movement of the bearing block I35, the latter is provided with an upwardly projecting flange I55 which is pivotally connected by a bolt I56 to the lever I5I at a point between the pivot I50 and the stud I53. H

The magnitude of the adjustment of the stud can be audibly determined by using a clicking detent I51 in association with the knob I54. A spring I58 acts in tension between the end of the lever I5I and a projection I59 extending from the U member I46. This spring serves to seat the threaded stud I53 so that it is not necessary to mount it for rotation within one of the shanks of the U member I46.

It will be noted that the rollers I04 and I05 which are used for drying the mercerizing yarns are mounted cantilever fashion on those ends of the shafts I34 and I33, respectively, which project through the bearing blocks I38 and I36, respec tively. Thus, the angular disposition of the shaft I33 relative to the shaft I34 adjusts not only the askew relation of rollers I00 and IN but likewise and tothe same extent the askew relation of rollers I04 and I05.

, It has been stated that the yarn is drawn from the packages I02 and I03 onto the rollers I00 and IOI through intermediate thread guides which have already been described. Before undertaking a description in detail of the driving mechanism for the two rollers I00 and IOI, it is desirable to refer briefly to other driven parts of the machine so that in describing the drivin mechanism all of it may be explained as a unit.

In connection with Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, padding rollers and a washing roller were described as driven parts. These features are incorporated in the machine shown in Figures 9 to 24, inclusive, but their particular arrangement, shape and operation issomewhat different from the modification describedin Figures 1 to 8, inclusive. In the first place, the padding roller accuses 13 which applies the caustic is not mounted coaxially with the washing roller, as was the case in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, but is separately mounted cantilever fashion in a slightly different position. If reference is made to Figure 13, it will be noted that the padding roller I60. is mounted on a stub shaft I6I, whereas wash rollers I82, I63, and I64 are mounted in spaced relation on a separate shaft I65. The bearing I68 for mounting shaft IBI is connected to the frame I39 by bolts and similar bearings I51 and IE8 are attached respectively to the frame members I39 and I48 in a manner to support the shaft I65. The shaft I6I.is provided with a gear I 69 through which it is driven and this gear meshes with a gear I10 mountedon the shaft I65. Also mounted on the shaft I65 in axiallyspaced relation to the gear I10 is a triple conical sleeve I1I provided with belt grooves at various radii to constitute part of a drivin speed adjustment mechanism, The sheave I II is connected by a belt I12 to a quadruple conical sheave I13 which is mounted on a shaft I14'journaled in a block I15 attached to the frame channel member I4I. A belt tightener I16 (see Figure 11) is pivoted to a bracket extending from the journal block I15 and is urged by a spring I11 to tighten the belt-I12. The sheave I13 is driven by a belt I18 which in turn is driven by a pulley I19 attached at the outside end of the shaft I34. In order to tighten the belt I18, the reversal loop of the belt passes around a pulley I80 which is carried on an arm I8! pivoted at I82 to a frame element I83 attached to a standard I84 extending upwardly from the L-frame I39. Pulley I80 is urged to belt tightening position by a spring I85 running between the arm I8I and an end of the frame I83.

The shaft I34, in addition to carrying thereon the pulley I19, likewise carries a pulley I86 which is connected by a belt I81 to a similar pulley I88 fixed on the shaft I33. The belt I81, in addition to engaging the two pulleys I19 and I88, likewise surrounds a pulley I89 that is connected to a shaft I90 of an electric motor I9I mounted on a bracket I92 attached to a main frame I93 supported from the floor. The belt I81 is maintained tight by a rider pulley I94 attached to an arm I95 which is pivoted at I96 to a portion of the frame I39.

It will be observed that the pulleys I86 and I88 are the same size and that in view of the way in which the belt passes around them they will both be turned at the same speed in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 11. Since the pulley I19 is much smaller than either of the pulleys I 88 or I88, the belt I18 will be driven more slowly than the belt I 81. Further speed reduction is brought about by thelarge diameter of pulley I13 such that the speed of shaft I14 is below that of shafts I33 and I34. Shaft I12 is shown as connected in such a way that the speed of shaft I05 is about equal to that of shaft I14. On the other hand, the gears I69 and I10 are of such relative size that the padding roller I60, which is driven from the shaft I6 I, will move much slower than the washing rollers I82, I63 and I64. Furthermore, it will be observed that the lower run of the yarns from the roller I to the roller IOI is from left to right as viewed in Figure 11. From that figure it is likewise apparent that the upper surface of washing rollers I62, I63 and I64 at the point of tangential contact with the threads move-in the same direction as the threads in their lower-run whereas, by virtue.

of the reversal brought about by the gears I69 and I10, the padding roller I 60, which applies the mercerizing caustic, will, at its upper surface where it tangentially contacts the thread, be moving in a direction opposite to the direction of the thread.

The nature and speed of the movements of the several driven parts of the mercerizin and drying apparatus have now been described and there remains the necessity of describing the structure and mounting arrangement for the squeeze roller and the structure and operation of the twisting mechanism. For an understanding of the squeeze roller, reference should be made to Figures 14, 15 and 19. The squeeze roller itself is comprised of a hollow metal cylinder I91 having a longitudinally knurled surface over which there is fit a tight resilient sleeve of rubber which is designated in the drawings at I 98. The resilient sleeve I98 should be made of natural or synthetic rubber having a Shore hardness of 50 to 70. The squeeze roller, which may be generically designated by numeral I99, is mounted on a shaft 200 and that shaft is journaled in bearing blocks 29I and 202. The bearing blocks 20I and 202 are provided with upper and lower horizontal grooves at 203, 294, 205 and 206 and these grooves receive therein guiding rails 201, 208, 209 and H0. The guiding rails are attached by bolts to generally U-shaped brackets 2H and H2 and the brackets are in turn bolted respectively to frame members I39 and I40. It can be seen that by the arrangement shown the bearing blocks MI and 202 are slidable horizontally on the respective rails and that sliding movement thereof will bring about an adjustment of the spatial relation between the squeeze roller I99 and the adjacent treatment roller IOI. So that this adjustment may be conveniently effected, the upper rails 20? and 299 for the bearing blocks 20I and 292 are extended beyond the end of the bearing block and are provided there with bolts 2I3 and 2M which pivotally connect them to depending arms 2I5 and ZIE which are connected together at their lower ends by a rod 2 I8 which extends across the machine from the lower end of the arm 2I5 to the lower end of the arm 2I6. Arm H5 is pivotally connected at 2I5a to the bearing block 20I and arm 2I6 is similarly connected to the bearing block 292 at 2I5a. At the midpoint of the rod 2I8, see Figure 13, it is connected to a threaded bolt 2I9 which extends from within a rectangular frame definin a cross-head slide assembly 220. slidable on the slides of the assembly 220 is a cross-head 22I to which the threaded rod 2 I9 is anchored. Between the crosshead 22I and the right hand end of the crosshead slide assembly as it is viewed in Figure 11, there is a compression spring 222 which urges the cross-head 22f and the rod 2 I 9 toward the left and the end of the cross-head slide assembly 220 toward the right as viewed in Figure 11, thereby to shorten the effective length of the assembly 220 and the rod 2I9. The assembly 220, see Figures 13 and 23, is provided with a handle 223 by which it may be moved into and out of latching engagement with a bracket 22 1. Actually, the handle 223 is screwed into a block 225 which is pinned between the slides of the assembly 220 at the end remote from the rod M9. The block 225 has pivotally attached to it a boss 226 which extends transversely of the long axis of the handle 223 and which bears against 15 the surface of the bracket 224 to assume the thrust of the spring 222.

When it is desired to move the squeeze roller I99 away from the roller IOI, the handle 223 is moved to the right of the position of Figure 13 until the boss 226 no longer engages the bracket 224 and the whole assembly 220 and 2I9 can be moved to the right of the Figure 11 position to cause the bearing blocks 20I and 202 to move away from the machine. Note that the bracket 224 is slotted to receive the slides of the assembly 220, see Figure 23.

It has been stated above that the yarn issuing from the drying roller I is twisted on spindle I06. The spindle I06 is driven by a shaft 221 which is connected to the drive shaft I90 of the motor I9I on the opposite side of the motor from the connection of the pulley I89. The shaft 221 is provided at its end remote from the connection to the motor I3I with a driving pulley 228 which is connected by a belt 229 to the driving pulley for the spindle I06. A belt guide 230 serves to maintain the belt in its desired driving relation to the spindle I06.

The details of the spindle I05 are well known to the art and need not therefore be described in detail here. The spindle I06 is a part of a ring twister which includes, in addition, a ring frame 23I on which is mounted a traveler that lays up the yarn on the spindle. In order that the yarn may be laid up in successive courses according to a pattern, it is necessary to reciprocate the ring frame 23I and to this end it is connected to a vertically extending bar 232 which is guided for reciprocation in a trackway 233 suitably attached to the main frame, see Figures and 13. The bar 232 is connected at its lower end to a tape 234 which extends around a large builder pulley 235 to a chain 236, see Figures 9 and 10. The chain 236 passes around a pulley 231 and is provided at one end with a counterweight 233 and at the other end is connected to a wheel 239 which is oscillated by a chain 240 connecting it to a cam follower MI. The cam follower is oscillated about its axis by a heart-shaped cam 242 which is driven from a motor 243 through a belt drive 244 and a transmission including a gear box 245. It is to be understood that the details of the driving mechanism for operating the ring rail are only schematically indicated since this type of arrangement is Well known in the art and per se forms no part of this invention.

The actual transmission of the thread from the package I02 or I03 to the bobbin on the twister spindle has now been described. It is to be understood, however, that the control of the spacing of the coils of the yarn on the rollers I00, IOI, I04 and I05 has not been described, nor has the guiding arrangement for transferrin the yarn from the pair of rollers I00 and IUI to the pair of rollers I04 and I05.

It will be understood that no matter how bearing I33 is adjusted the helix angle of the coils wound on the rollers I00 and IOI can never be such as to make the yarns run over both rollers in contacting relation to define virtually a sheet. The reason for this is that the rollers I00 and I 0| are spaced apart, and if the helix angle be adjusted to equal the thickness of the thread, even so, some divergence will occur in the run between the tangential discharge from one roller to the tangential take up of the other. It is. however, desirable that as much thread as possible be maintained on the rollers I00 and IM during mercerizing and that that thread be run in the form of coils that are so closely spaced as to be virtually touching. To accomplish this result it is necessary to push the coils backwards of their axial advancement during a run between the rollers. This is accomplished by a bar 246 which is disposed in the yarn path of the upper run of yarn between the two rollers I00 and IN. The angularity of the bar 246 is adjustable by screws 24! and 248 that are threaded through the frame element I83 which extends across the top of the machine and which is suitably supported from standards I46 and I84.

A similar bar 249 acts between the rollers I04 and I05 and this bar is adjusted by screws 250 and 25I. The screw 25I is shown in section in Figure 16 and that screw will be described in detail with the understanding that the same structure is employed in the screws 241, 248, 250 and 25I.

Referring now in detail to the screw 25I, it will be seen that it is a hollow threaded body, the lower surface of which bears on the upper surface of a boss 252. The boss is connected to a bolt 253 which passes upwardly through the hollow center of the screw 25I and is likewise pivotally connected to one end of the rod 249. A nut 254 is threaded over the upper end of bolt 253 and between the nut and a knurled operating knob 255 constituting a part of the screw 25I, there is disposed a spring 256. It can be seen that the spring 258 and the nut 254 act to bias the bolt 253, the boss 252 and the rod 249 upwardly, the bias being opposed by the screw 25I. The adjust ment of the angularity of the bars 249 and 246 is therefore accomplished by turning the knurled knob 255 and its equivalent on the other screws to place the bars 245 and 249 in such a position that their yarn contacting surface slopes slightly upwardly from left to right as viewed in Figure 16 so that they act as cams to push the coils of yarn back to the right as viewed in Figure 16 to close up the space between them. The bars 246 and 243 are provided with depending stop pins at their opposite ends, which are designated in the drawings at 246a and 249a.

The yarn issuing from the roller IOI does not pass directly onto the roller I05 but issues through a thread guiding eyelet 251 and passes then through the eyelet 258 of a stop wire 259 and then through an eyelet 260 and onto the roller I05. The eyelet 250 is held by a bracket 26I fastened to the frame element I83 and the drop wire 259 is pivoted from a switch box 262 also supported from the frame element I83. The drop wire 259 is normally biased to move in a counterclockwise direction as it is viewed in Figure 12. As long as the thread holds it in the Figure 12 position, the machinery will operate, but in the event of thread breakage the wire 259 will move counter-clockwise from the Figure 12 position and through switches in the switch box 262 shut off the driving motor I9 I.

It has been stated before that rollers I04 and I05 are drying rollers. The manner in which they effect the drying operation can best be understood by reference to Figures 16, 17 and 18, in which the details of the roller I05 are shown. Although the roller I04 is not shown in detail, it will be understood that it is similar to roller I05 so that a description of one will suffice for both.

The roller I05 is provided with a hub 203 which is fastened to the shaft I33 by a set screw 264. The hub 263 is provided with .a flange 265 which 

